SC mum on Duterte’s statement on issuance of TROs

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday still has no comment on the statement of President-elect Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte slamming the courts' issuance of temporary restraining orders.

SC Public Information Office chief and spokesman Theodore Te said the justices will not comment on issues involving political matters. He clarified that since Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno assumed office in 2010, the high court has been implementing the so-called “dignified-silence.”

In his press conference on Tuesday evening, Duterte said he will be harsh on corruption and cited that the judiciary’s practice to grant TROs has become a form of corruption. He said TRO tend to give way to bribing magistrates.

“I am sending somebody to the Supreme Court and I really don’t know kung sino ang kausapin doon to stop this practice of the judiciary, TRO nang TRO. And you cannot implement a project, you cannot go ahead even if there is the advice already because there is a TRO,” Duterte said.

“And the TRO simply means money for the judges. They have to stop it,” he added. —Rosette Adel